What I Wore

I have quite a few pictures this week. It's much more fun to dress for school than for summer. BTW, just to clarify I teach jr. high. I got a few comments that people didn't know last week. I teach history, health, a P.E. class called Lifetime Activities, student council, and yearbook.

Anywho... this is what I wore this week.

Tank: Old Navy, Pants: Old Navy, Shoes: Target

I felt very C & C in this outfit. It think it's the higher waisted pants. I don't know if she would take that as a compliment though... : )

Shirt: Traded with Paige, Pants: Old Navy, Shoes: Steve Madden via Ross

I wore this for a girl's night out. We have season ticket's to a theater and went and saw a play.

I tried another bit of bracelet stacking...

Shirt: Express, Skirt: Actually a dress from F21, Shoes: Target, Belt and bracelet: F21

I love how this outfit came together. It was a great way to remix the dress and shirt. As you can see, I wore this shirt again the next week and it didn't even feel like I was wearing the same thing. In fact, I didn't even realize it until now.

Dress: Ross, Shoes: Payless, Necklace: Made by me

I love this dress. I had to wear it one more time before summer was over, although I will probably wear it in the fall.

Shirt: H&M, Cardigan: Ross, Pants: Old Navy, Shoes: Target, Bag: Nine West via Ross

I wore this on a hot date with husband. I thought it was a good summer --> fall transitional outfit.

Tank: Kohls, Pants: Old Navy, Shoes: Mervyns (yup, they are old)

I wore these pants a lot, huh? They are actually skinnies rolled up. I totally copied this outfit from my friend Ashley. She wore her ruffly tank over a black shirt so I did too. She is a great remixer, too bad she doesn't post her outfits...

Jacket: Old Navy, Shirt: Express, Skirt: ?? Can't remember, Shoes: Hand-me-down

I was inspired by myself, wearing this outfit again, but throwing on the jacket this time. It was too hot for the jacket so I took it off as soon as I got to work.

Remember-- this week's Shop Your Closet challenge is to dress up a t-shirt. I haven't worn mine yet... I need to do laundry first. : )

Labor Day Sale!

Get 15% your entire purchase at Yellow Blackbird now through Tuesday night with code LABOR15.

This is the perfect time to accessorize your fall wardrobe with a Blooming Sash Belt.

Or a beautiful Different Kind of Pearl Necklace (available also in white, black, blue, and turquoise).

If you need something smaller, try a Bird's Nest Charm for only $5 plus the %15 off!

Bright colors are really big for fall this year. Accessorize your hair (or get a head start on Christmas shopping) with this Rosette Gift set.

And of course there are more items available in the shop! Remember to enter code LABOR 15. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Jewelry Basics: Tools and Findings

I recently received an email from Kalie that asked me for some advice on how to get started making jewelry- tools, materials, etc. I have decided to make a mini series out of this question. Today I will be talking about the tools and materials (called 'findings' in the jewelry world). I have also been working on some necklaces that use basic techniques. These will be featured in upcoming tutorials. For now,  I am going to link to items in my Etsy shop to show examples of jewelry that can be made with some of the materials.

I will be posting the links to the websites where these photos came from. Many of them are from amazon.com. However, the prices on amazon.com are higher than my local craft store. You can get even better deals if you use coupons, which places like Michaels offer all the time.

I usually use Blue Moon or Jewelry Designer for my projects, but I am sure that any brand will do.

TOOLS

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The first thing you need to make jewelry is a set of tools. This is the set that I have. They have worked really well for me. The three I use the most are the wire cutters, round nose pliers, and bent pliers.

EYE PINS

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Eye pins are essential for making necklaces that link together like this one or dangly earring like these.

HEAD PINS

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Head pins are needed for jewelry like these pearl necklaces.

JUMP RINGS

 

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Jump rings are needed to attach clasps, hook eye pins together, attach chain, etc.

CHAIN

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Chain is kind of a no-brainer when it comes to jewelry making. Besides all of the obvious uses, I like to use it on a long beaded necklace to make them weigh less. Meaning, rather than having the beads go all the way around my neck, I use chain on the back so I get the look of a beaded necklace but it isn't as heavy.

CLASPS

 

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These are lobster clasps, but there are a lot of different kind of clasps you can buy. Choose whatever kind you like.

JEWELRY WIRE (TIGER TAIL)

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Tiger tail is a flexible wire for stringing beads. You can use it for pendants too. This is an example. This is the best thing to buy if you want to make strung bracelets like this.

CRIMP BEADS

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Crimp beads are needed to get the clasps to stay on the tiger tail. It won't work without them.

EAR WIRE

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Obviously, a necessity for making earrings. If you are like me and don't have pierced ears, it's also possible to get clip on findings.

And of course you need beads!

I hope this was helpful. Tutorials to come soon.

What I Wore

It was the first week of school. I always have a hard time with that one. It's really hot outside (and sometimes in if you are like poor husband whose classroom doesn't have AC), it's technically still summer, but I want to wear my new fall clothes.

Shirt: made by me, Skirt: old, Necklace: Forever 21, Shoes: Old Navy

This is what I wore the third day of school. I needed to take my PE class outside to play lawn games but I didn't want to change into my PE clothes yet so I opted for this cool outfit.

Shirt: H&M, Skirt: Old, Shoes: Hand-me-downs, Belt: Ross, Necklace: Gift

This is what I wore the second day of school. The photo didn't turn out well at all but I really liked the outfit. It's good to look professional on the first days of class.

Shirt: Shade, Skirt: Made by me, Shoes: Steve Madden via Ross

I've already shown you this outfit last week. It's what I wore the first day of school. And it's my first handmade by me skirt!

Dress: Ross, Shirt: Old, Belt: Ross, Shoes: Forever Young Shoes

This is what I wore the 4th day of school. After this I will stop telling you what day it is. I feel like I should be singing the 12th day of Christmas. I actually picked out a great outfit to wear this day but decided to save it until a little bit later in the fall and wear this very summer-y dress instead.

And finally, this is what I wore for the Shop Your Closet challenge last week. Our challenge was to wear something that you hardly ever or rarely wear. I had never worn the zebra belt before.

Remember: This weeks challenge is to go monochromatic. I have already worn my outfit, but am saving it to post on Saturday!


As always, linking up at the Pleated Poppy.

Shop Your Closet

This week's challenge was to wear something monochromatic. This was the first challenge that I didn't already secretly have something in mind to wear. I wanted to cheat and wear this again, but instead I cheated and wore black with all my pinks.

I figured that the skirt was already monochromatic, I would just accessorize it to be more so. I have had this skirt since 2002. I wore it for my senior portraits in high school! I have only ever worn it with black so I added the pink blazer, shoes, and handmade plastic cup necklace. Not my favorite outfit ever, but I successfully shopped my closet! I have had the shoes since 2005 and the blazer since probably about '06 or '07 and have never worn these pieces together.

Everything is so old that I really don't remember where much of it came from. I think the blazer is from Vanity and the rest from department stores.

How did you do? Grab a button and link up below!

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NEXT WEEK'S CHALLENGE: Dress up a t-shirt. I used to wear a ton of graphic t-shirts and hoodies. I then drastically changed my style to where I rarely wear those items besides when working out. I still have a few t-shirts that don't get much use so this week I am going to pull together a nice outfit using one of those tees.

Here's ten tips for dressing up a t-shirt.

In this video, the lovely Jessica Quirk from What I Wore, mixes a t-shirt into a nice outfit.

Don't know if my weather would permit this, but check out this pin.

And finally, this pin takes the t-shirt to the office.

Good luck!

Craft Room: My Inspiration Board

Do you have an inspiration board? Besides Pinterest I mean. As great as that website is, I still love my 3D tangible collection. I have had this board for awhile, but I recently painted the frame white so it would pop against the green walls of my craft room. I like it.

Here are some of my favorite "pins."

My favorite thing is literally a pin. I have a big collection of pins. This one was purchased at Disneyland about a year ago. It was just me and husband and it was an amazing trip. It was the first time I had been to Disneyland since I had started crafting and blogging and selling on Etsy and it was tremendously inspiring.

You guys, I can't draw. At all. I am not being modest. During this same Disneyland trip we discovered this great place in the California Adventure park that gave drawing lessons. I drew this Minnie Mouse all by myself. I was so proud! I had to bring it all the way home.

(I also love the dress and outfit in the top corner.)

This outfit inspired the skirt I made. When I saw the fabric on sale at Walmart for $1 per yard it reminded me of this picture on my board so I bought it. Aren't those necklaces amazing?

It's good to inspire yourself, right? This is a flower that I made.

There are still blank spaces on the board because it is continually rotating. I can add and subtract as I feel like it!

Shop Your Closet

This week's challenge was to wear something you have never or hardly ever wear. How did you do?

I picked this challenge just so I would make myself wear this belt. I have had it for about one year and have never worn it. I am not sure why. Animal prints are really in right now, I just have a hard time styling this belt.

I picked out an outfit to wear to church and when I put it on that morning it looked horrid. We were already late so I had to just throw something together and this is what I came up with. There's nothing extraordinary about this outfit but at least I wore the belt.

Wearing: Dress: [small local shop that is now out of business and I can't remember it's name], Sweater: Ross; Belt: Ross, Wedges: Hand-me-downs.

NEXT CHALLENGE: This week, let's try a monochromatic look. This one is going to be a bit tough for me because I don't have many colored bottoms.

Be inspired: I love this look from Kendi. I don't know if it's entirely monochromatic, but the accessories look fabulous.

Here are some tips for making this work.

Cute and Little wore a great monochromatic pink outfit recently.

This is a fun all blue outfit.

Come to think of it, I guess this week I wore monochromatic. I will have to go for something other than black. I better head off to my closet and start planning...

Good luck!

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I made a skirt!!

All by myself! I haven't sewn clothing since I was in high school home ec. But I did everything myself- the shopping, the cutting, the sewing. I even wound a bobbin! This is big for me!

I first got the idea from Suburbs Mama. Then my real life friend Ashley made a similar skirt. I knew I had to try it.

I followed the tutorial on Suburbs Mama. It was easy to follow. But if you have a serger, I would serge the edge that attaches to the elastic. Mine is fraying like crazy so I am going to try to fix it at my mom's house.

I love this outfit. I wore it for the first day of school. It seems "teacher-ish" to me.

The shirt is from Shade and the shoes are Steve Madden via Ross.

What I Wore

Did you notice that Lindsay at the Pleated Poppy has started doing style challenges too? And that she and I chose the same challenge this week? What a coincidence! So... if you are visiting from the Pleated Poppy and wore something that you never or hardly ever wear, come back here on Saturday to link up to the Shop Your Closet challenge!

I had a lot of outfits this week since I did best of/worst of last week, but then my hard drive died and I lost everything, including those photos. Therefore, I only have these few pictures. But today is the first day of school so I should start dressing better and have more interesting outfits.

Jacket: Old, Shirt: Old (Ross?), Pants: Maurices, Shoes: Steve Madden via Ross

This is what I wore on back to school night. I am still dying over these shoes. I love them! Gray patent leather platform sling back pumps. Woot! I love them because they are a platform heel but aren't very tall!!

Shirt: Shade, Pants: Old Navy, Shoes: Walmart, Bag: Tai Pan, Necklace: Made by me

I was at a loss for what to wear this day. I was checking my blogs during breakfast and saw this outfit and suddenly knew what to wear. I remembered that last time Jessica wore that sweater she had paired it with teal so I did too.

I also tried a bit of bracelet stacking.

Shorts: Calvin Klein via Savers, Shirt: Made by me, Shoes: Walmart

Are you getting sick of seeing these shorts? Me too. But at least I feel like I got my money's worth out of them. I was trying to think of what else I could wear with them for a simple summer outfit when it occurred to me that I hadn't worn this shirt refashion for a long time. So I wore it.

I also realized in looking for that link that I haven't done a good shirt refashion in about 6 months it seems. I tend to craft in stages- do you? I am sort of on a sewing kick! Shocker! Coming up soon week will be my first skirt!!!

P.S. I already know what challenge I am going to do this week so if Lindsay picks the same thing as me again that would just be nuts! She probably doesn't even know my little blog exists! : )